Finding Charleston Style Homes in Charleston, SC

By Lee Keadle

Few cities in the country have a style of house all their own. The Chicago bungalow and the Cape Cod are two styles that come to mind for having specific architecture associated with the area. In Charleston, SC, you'll find what's called the Charleston single. This is a single family house that is not very wide but is very long, and they're usually two to three stories. Residents started building these homes in the 1700s in downtown Charleston. Land was being sold at a premium, and these homes were designed to fit on smaller lots. The idea was to build up rather than out, so you'll see some historic homes in downtown Charleston with as many as five stories!

There are so many of these homes are available to home buyers in downtown Charleston. So, if you're looking to buy an authentic Charleston styled home and you're in a higher price range, this is the ideal area to start your home search. You can find beautifully restored Charleston singles, many of which can be linked back to Charleston's rich history. For example, lots of these homes are listed on various state and national registers of historic homes and some are featured in books about Charleston's history.

If you're looking for the Charleston look but want a newer home, you'll find so many options throughout the Charleston area. Because this style of home is in high demand from buyers, new neighborhoods built in the Charleston style have been popping up in areas from James Island to Summerville!

The most famous of these neighborhoods is I'on. This is a nationally known neighborhood located in Mt. Pleasant, and this is as close as it gets to downtown Charleston style homes. Many of these homes have the final Charleston touches, too, such as operable shutters, beautiful brickwork designs, and gas lighting at the entrance. The main downfall of I'on is that it's as expensive as the homes in downtown Charleston. But, if you're in this price range anyway (say, $700K plus), and you don't want to live downtown but still want the feel of it, I'on may be the neighborhood for you!

There are plenty of more affordable options for Charleston styled homes, so don't worry if your budget is in the $200-500K range. On James Island, you'll find the Charleston style neighborhoods Westfield Place, Eaglewood Retreat, Jamestowne Village, and Lakeside Village. On Johns Island you'll find Barberry Woods, the Villages in St. Johns Woods, and Rushland Plantation. In Mt. Pleasant there is Rivertowne on the Wando, Grassy Creek, Chadbury Village, The Village subsection of Park West, and Hamlin Plantation. West Ashley has Schieveling Plantation and McLaura Bluff, and Summerville has White Gables (which is the most affordable option on this list).

Whether you want an authentic Charleston style home in downtown Charleston or a newly built home in a convenient location, you'll find a lot of options to choose from!

About the Author
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